Andrew Conlan (pictured middle with his parents and brothers in 1982 at their home near Fiskville) was among those to contact Slater & Gordon following revelations of a link between training practices at the Fiskville site and serious illnesses. Source: Herald Sun

THE Country Fire Authority could be hit with tens of millions of dollars in compensation payouts, as more than 200 alleged victims joined a class action over exposure to cancer-causing chemicals at Fiskville.

Slater & Gordon has gathered a "staggering" number of former firefighters and CFA staff who claim they have become sick as a result of their time at the notorious training site.

The law firm is planning to file a claim in the Supreme Court within months but has offered the CFA a chance to negotiate to avoid hefty legal costs.

Alleged victims joining the action have a range of illnesses, including lung, bowel, face, mouth and breast cancer, as well as several non-smokers who have contracted respiratory diseases.

Point Lonsdale father of three Andrew Conlan was among those to contact Slater & Gordon following revelations of a link between training practices at Fiskville and serious illnesses.

Now 47, Mr Conlan grew up on a farm next door to Fiskville and his mother and father both worked at the training facility during quiet periods on the farm.

"Our father was one of the pad operators who Professor Joy's report recognised as some of those most at risk and Mum worked in the kitchen," Mr Conlan said.

His father died of heart disease and his mother died of bone cancer but it wasn't until late last year that Mr Conlan and his siblings began to draw a solid connection between their parents' illnesses and their work for the CFA.

"It was always a suspicion but this obviously strengthened when we saw the long list of people we knew well who were affected," Mr Conlan said.

Slater & Gordon associate Andrew Baker said the claim would include requests of compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and loss of wages.

He said the number of people who had joined the action was "staggering".

"There are very clear clusters in Ballarat and Geelong. Cancer is the biggest group but there are also people with respiratory illnesses," he said.

The Greens will introduce new laws to the Victorian Parliament this year, which are backed by the Labor Party, to give all firefighters easier access to compensation following the revelations about the dangers at Fiskville.

The Herald Sun uncovered the Fiskville scandal, which has been linked to at least 20 cancer-related deaths of people who worked and trained at the site between 1971 and 1999.

State government spokeswoman Clare Siddins said the Government was considering the legislation.

CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson said: "CFA will not speculate on a case that has not been lodged."

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